Eight months have elapsed since Matt Smith’s Doctor regenerated into Peter Capaldi, and for mildly enthusiastic fans like myself, the wait has felt very, very long. However, Doctor Who‘s effective publicity machine rolled on, and between the BBC and people following the outdoor shooting schedule, the rest of us could at least have a few treats along the way. Mild spoilers await, Sweetie, but let’s take a look at some of my favorite moments since last Christmas.

It’s not too often that I have much to say on the subject of sports, but we’ve got a few stories of note this week, as well as some new hurdles to LGBT equality. Throw in some medical/science-y bits, and we’ve got ourselves a newsy roundup. Let’s get to it: